Chapter 13

"So we getting' on the Highwind or wut?" Barret asked, eyeing the rest of AVALANCHE. "I mean I ain't sittin' my butt all day after we decided that we goin', righ'?"

There were a few shrugs and a few weak nods. Yuffie thought back to the days of when Meteor was around and gave a weak shake of her head. "Even though you guys decided that we're going… I don't want to be bent over the side of the Highwind again… trying not to lose my lunch."

"Well that's you! And it just might not be your lunch too!" Cid grinned when Yuffie gave him a glare. "What? Anyways… it's your f… er… freakin' bad stomach!" He began to hop from one foot to another, the thought of the Highwind excited him. "Ahh! It'll be like the old days, ya know? With us all together and all." He added his last words with a puff of smoke, winning disapproving looks from everyone, and a lasting glare from Tifa.

"Uh… yes… very much so Cid. Just calm down before you… er 'wet your pants with excitement', can I say?" Red said, causing Cid to stop hopping and give him a dark look.

"Yeah! We're definitely going to help Aeris!" Cloud nodded, his spikes waving around. He seemed to be the only one with real enthusiasm about going to the Promised Land. He got weird looks and added uncertainly. "Er… aren't we?"

Cid puffed out more smoke. "Course. That's what we just decided on right? Save the damn kid and then we back to normal life? So let's move ass and get the damn thing over with. Go check out Northern Crater, if there's no way to the Promised Land… oh well! At least we'll get a few days off… eh?"

"No." Tifa said with disdain. "Because Aeris is our friend and she might be in danger. There are no few days off when our friends are in danger. And as you said, let's see if Northern Cave is our place. If not, we'll just keep searching."

The AVALANCHE members were so caught up with saving Aeris that they did not notice Marlene standing to the side, lips trembling and tears forming in her eyes.

"Daddy… are you going to leave me here again?" Marlene asked, her voice quiet as she tried to contain her tears.

Barret looked sadly down at his adopted his daughter. His heart filled with regret and guilt. Man… what is wrong wit' me? Dyne told me to take good care of her… is this taking good care of her? Leaving her with Elymra all the time? I barely got a chance to play with her when Meteor came… and now I'm rushin' off again…

He bent down and touched her head. "Darling, I… I'll be back soon alrigh'? And then after that I'll never go adventurin', ok? I wouldn't leave you, but this time Aeris is in danger. You remember her? The flower girl?"

"Yes daddy… I remember her." Marlene replied, being an obedient child. She tried hard not to cry.

Barret patted her head and hugged her hard. "C'mon girl. Daddy won't be gone long. When I'm back, I'll play with you everyday and teach you all I know… alrigh'?" Marlene gave a sullen nod and Barret planted a wet kiss on her forehead.

"Barret… why don't you bring your kid along?" Cid asked.

The large man shook his head. "I can't. I'll just put her in danger. If she gets hurt… how can I tell Dy…" He quickly broke off, not wanting to tell Marlene her real parents.

"Daddy… who's that?" Marlene asked.

There was an awkward silence after the little girl asked the question. "Ah… you know what? I think I'm gonna get some fresh air." Cid began inching out.

"Yeah, me too." Yuffie said, standing up and began inching out with Cid. "Why don't you uh… spend some time with Marlene."

Tifa cast the two a stern look. "Barret, maybe it's time to tell the truth."

"But…" Barret's voice cracked and his eyes showed sadness. "Maybe later…" He shoved his hands in his pockets, stood up, and began filing out.

"Barret!" Tifa grabbed his sleeve and tugged him back. "If you don't tell her, I will!"

Marlene gave a frightened look. "Daddy… what's going on? …"

Barret wouldn't look into the girl's eyes. "Marlene… the truth is…"

"I'm outta here." Yuffie and Cid said in unison and bolted out of the room.

"Yeah… come on guys." Cloud began walking out, Red got off the floor and followed him, the rest of AVALANCHE followed suit.

The large man watched all his friends file out of the room. When he thought they were out of earshot, he pulled his hands out of his pockets. They felt heavy by his side, he felt like the world's biggest idiot. "Marlene," He began. "The truth is… I'm not your real daddy…"

- - - - -

"Is he alright?"

Aeris looked up from her crying. There Ifalna and Gast stood, looking at her sympathetically. "Oh mom… dad…" She whispered. "They beat him… and he's sorry for all he's done… and they still beat him!" She began to cry harder. "Look at what they've done to him!"

"Aeris, people get angry. Do not blame them for their anger. Anger is something inborn in all of us. It was also what caused Sephiroth's insanity. You of all people should understand." Gast said, laying his hand on her shoulder.

"But he didn't deserve this!" Aeris cried, her voice filled with emotion, she tried hard to stop crying, but her eyes betrayed her.

She was not sure why it tore a hole in her heart. This person she was crying over was Sephiroth, her very own killer.

But he isn't the same person. The Sephiroth that killed me was insane. This one is gentler, kinder. Her mind said.

He still murdered you. Another part of her argued.

"No! It's not true!" She cried.

Her parents stared at her with weird expressions on their faces. Aeris sighed. She was talking to her own self. Was she going insane? First crying for her own murderer and now talking to herself?

"Aeris, come on. Let's get Sephiroth into the house and then we can treat him." Gast said, reaching down towards the body of the silver-haired man.

"NO!" She yelled out, causing both her parents to flinch. In a quieter voice, she explained. "No dad. He can't be moved. He's really hurt, if we move him, we'll just damage his body more."

Gast sat down next to his daughter. "If we don't move him, he'll die." He said, his voice hard. "So come on, let's get him out of here, please sweetheart?"

Aeris took a deep breath and finally agreed, standing up with her father. She nodded to her parents and together, the three of them gently lifted the silver-haired man and took him down the street into their house.

Oooh... poor Barret... and poor Sephiroth :(... and anyways... thanks to everyone who reviewed and read this, and to LadyKadaj who took time to correct this... and OMG! Final Fantasy VII Advent Children is out!